The vision for the period 2015-2023 is to develop K1-MET as the leading and internationally renowned metallurgical competence centre. To reach this vision, the take-up and implementation of trendsetting innovations will be one of the major challenges. The base for a fruitful development of K1-MET is the constantly intensified cooperation of approx. 20 scientific facilities and industrial companies since 2001 and the promising results at research level. The next step in the lifecycle of K1-MET is the foundation of a company with limited liability under Austrian law (Ltd.) as an answer for the demanding challenges for the metallurgical sector in terms of technological and organizational issues defined by the CO2 reduction targets of the European Commission for the period 2020-2050.
Specifically the following actions are planned:
- Definition of a joint innovation programme (science + industry) for the further development of process leadership with the main focus on optimized usage of energy and resources
- Build-up and further development of co-operations with other sectors/branches (integra-tion of new partners)
- Internationalisation (researcher's mobility, participation in European projects, integration in international networks like SPIRE)
- Acquisition, build-up and development of promising researchers
- Establishment of a Non-K area
For the next funding-period the areas have been new-defined. This will enable the focused working on essential technological questions and at the same time strengthen the multidisciplinarity and general cooperation between the areas.
- Area 1: Resources and Recycling
- Area 2: High Temperature Metallurgy
- Area 3: Processing and Energy Performance
- Area 4: Simulation (horizontal area)
The projects defined in the areas will contribute significantly to reach the following superior objectives:
- CO2 efficient production of metals and intermediate components
- Cross-sectorial approach to radically improved production processes
- Leadership in solutions for more efficient processing and energy systems
In general, the research program was defined for a 4-years period starting from the year 2015. However, the discussions about topics and range of projects are not yet finalized. Also the identification and integration of other industrial and scientific partners is necessary to be able to reach the long-term objectives of K1-MET. From a current state of view, the defined projects offer huge potential for the integration of new partners.